Lotus 2-Eleven Review

The two types are mechanically identical. Öhlins dampers with adjustments for bump and rebound are standard. The front anti-roll bar is also adjustable; Lotus provides the 2-Eleven owner with a set of instructions for suspension setup. The mighty brakes-from the heavier Exige Cup race car-have an anti-lock system with a subtle action. The 2-Eleven is also the first production model to include the 18-position traction control developed by Lotus Sport; the first position on the rotary control allows some seven degrees of yaw before modulating engine power. Each subsequent position of the knob allows progressively more oversteer until the traction control is turned off completely.

Lotus recognizes that on track days there will be the occasional body-mangling incident, and so the 2-Eleven's outer panels are inexpensive fiberglass that are bolted, rather than bonded, to the chassis. As there are no doors, the 2-Eleven uses the high-silled chassis center section from the original Elise, and it comes with a roll hoop and forward bars that are useful hand-holds when clambering over the high sides. Inside the cockpit, it's essentials only: bare aluminum and no carpet. You'll need a full-face helmet to drive at speed, and the aerodynamics are such that, beyond 80 mph, a taller driver can experience some helmet lift, disconcerting to say the least.

The 2-Eleven takes its name from a famous Lotus sports-racing car of the 1950s, the 11, all of 840 pounds powered by a 75-hp, 1.1-liter Coventry Climax engine. It was a giant killer on the track. The 2-Eleven is twice that weight but has more than triple the power and can embarrass many more powerful and expensive supercars at the right track. In doing so, it will provide the driver with some of the best fun anyone can have on wheels.